Bundesliga
Poulsen and Hwang fire Leipzig into DFB Cup semi-finals
Wolfsburg conceded twice in a game for the first time since they last faced RB Leipzig, on Matchday 16 in the Bundesliga, as goals from Yussuf Poulsen and Hwang Hee-Chan helped Leipzig booked a place in the final four of the DFB Cup while Wout Weghorst missed a first-half penalty.
RB Leipzig 2-0 Wolfsburg
Goals: 1-0 Poulsen (63'), 2-0 Hwang (88')
A DFB Cup quarter-final between the second and third-placed teams in the Bundesliga was also going to be a pulsating encounter, and that's what we got from the first whistle at the Red Bull Arena. Leipzig took control in the early stages and were only denied an opening goal by the heroics of Koen Casteels, who dived across his goalline to keep out Christopher Nklunku's header after Dani Olmo's cross from just two yards out. Another golden chance then fell to Justin Kluivert, but his header was a simpler task for Casteels this time. Wolfsburg began to push forward themselves after a quiet 20 minutes and they had the best chance of the first half to take the lead after 25 minutes. Marco Fritz checked a challenge from Nkunku on Kevin Mbabu in the Leipzig penalty area and pointed to the spot. Wout Weghorst stepped up but slipped as he shot and fired the spot-kick high over the crossbar. The game opened up further from there with Leipzig having a goal from Kluivert ruled out for offside before the final chance of the half fell Wolfsburg's way. Maxence Lacroix broke from defence and played Renato Steffen in on goal, only for a Peter Gulacsi knee to block his toe-poked shot at goal.
The second half showed no change of pace as Leipzig went close twice in the opening minutes. Poulsen was brilliant backheeled in on goal by Nkunku but Casteels blocked his shot away before Nkunku was on the end of Kluivert's cut-back 10 yards from goal but found Mbabu in his way. Leipzig stayed on top and finally made their pressure pay after the hour-mark. Substitute Alexander Sörloth made the difference with his outstanding through-ball matching Poulsen's run, and his shot took a deflection past Casteels at his near-post. Wolfsburg had struggled to get going in the second half but Josip Brekalo shot at goal with 10 minutes to play with Nordi Mukiele blocking it behind. Leipzig continued to press as Wolfsburg pushed on for an equaliser and Die Roten Bullen's semi-final place was sealed with two minutes to play as Hwang fired home a rebound after Emil Forsberg's close-range effort was saved by Casteels.
Match stats
- With his fifth goal in the competition, Poulsen is now the top scorer in this season's DFB Cup.
- Nagelsmann has reached the semi-finals of a major tournament for the second time in as many seasons, having taken Leipzig to the last four of the UEFA Champions League in 2019/20. His team are yet to concede in this season's DFB Cup.
- Wolfsburg conceded for the first time in 999 minutes of competitive football since playing out a 2-2 draw with Leipzig on Bundesliga Matchday 16.
- The Wolves - winners in 2014/15 - have been eliminated by Leipzig in each of the last three seasons, losing 1-0 in the 2018/19 round of 16 and 6-1 in the 2019/20 second round.
- Maximilian Arnold made his 300th competitive appearance for Wolfsburg.
Line-ups
Leipzig: Gulacsi (c) - Mukiele, Orban (Haidara 46'), Upamecano, Klostermann - Adams, Kampl - Kluivert (Sörloth 61'), Olmo (Henrichs 80'), Nkunku (Hwang 84') - Poulsen (Forsberg 80')
Unused subs: Martinez, Konate, Samardzic, Novda
Out: Angelino (muscular), Laimer (knee), Szoboszlai (groin)
Coach: Julian Nagelsmann
Wolfsburg: Casteels (c) - Mbabu, Lacroix, Brooks, Otavio - Arnold, Schlager (Bialek 85') - Baku (Philipp 72'), Gerhardt (Victor 72'), Steffen (Brekalo 72') - Weghorst
Unused subs: Pervan, Mehmedi, Guilavogui, Ginczek, Pongracic
Out: Roussillon (calf)
Coach: Oliver Glasner
2 - 0(0 - 0)
Leipzig
FINAL
Wolfsburg
0 - 0
End of second half
90'
vs
ADDED TIME!
We'll have four minutes of time added on at the end of the second half.
88'
vs
HWANG SEALS THE SEMI-FINAL SPOT!
Sörloth battles past Brooks into the Wolfsburg area and crosses into the area. Mbabu and Casteels block it away ahead of Forsberg but the ball comes to the back post where substitute Hwang is all alone to smash the rebound into the back of the net.
85'
vs
Bartosz Bialek
Xaver Schlager
84'
vs
Hee-Chan Hwang
Christopher Nkunku
83'
vs
SÖRLOTH SO CLOSE!
Forsberg does superbly to reach Haidara's pass into the Wolfsburg area and clip it across goal just before it rolls over the byline. Sörloth moves to the near post and tries to flick it at goal, but he's unlucky not to get enough on the ball in the end.
80'
vs
DOUBLE CHANGE
Some fresh legs going forward and defensive support as Henrichs and Forsberg come on for Leipzig.
80'
vs
Benjamin Henrichs
Dani Olmo
80'
vs
Emil Forsberg
Yussuf Poulsen
78'
vs
SO CLOSE FROM BREKALO!
A lovely cut inside from Brekalo opens space for a shot ahead of Adams. The ball deflects off Mukiele and hits the side-netting on the way behind. For a second, that looked like it had nestled in the bottom corner.
75'
vs
INTO THE FINAL 15...
Wolfsburg haven't really gotten going in this second half with Leipzig keeping good control of the game. But, they have fresh legs on in attack and potentially fresh ideas. This game is far from over yet.
72'
vs
TRIPLE CHANGE
Glasner's swaps entire the entire attacking support for Weghorst with Philipp, Victor and Brekalo all on for these final 20 minutes of normal time.
72'
vs
Maximilian Philipp
Ridle Baku
72'
vs
Joao Victor
Yannick Gerhardt
72'
vs
Josip Brekalo
Renato Steffen
67'
vs
999 MINUTES!
Wolfsburg's incredible run of not conceding is over at a remarkable 999 minutes in all competitions.
63'
vs
POULSEN PUTS LEIPZIG AHEAD!
And Sörloth was the difference-maker again. It's a fantastic double one-two between Sörloth and Poulsen and the substitute is down the right wing. He plays an incredible pass inside which beats Schlager and Poulsen reaches. He pushes on into the area and his shot from 12 yards takes a deflection past Casteels, and that's their run of not conceding gone in all competitions.
61'
vs
FIRST CHANGE
Sörloth comes on for Kluivert to join the Leipzig attack. He also came on from the bench at the weekend against Gladbach and grabbed a goal and assist.
61'
vs
Alexander Sørloth
Justin Kluivert
58'
vs
300 UP FOR ARNOLD!
It's a huge night for Wolfsburg's Maxi Arnold, by the way. This is his 300th competitive game for Wolfsburg.
53'
vs
ANOTHER BIG CHANCE!
Leipzig find space in behind down the right with Kluivert and his cut-back finds Nkunku in the area. His first touch is a heavy one and so Mbabu recovers to make a crucial block on his shot in front of goal.
52'
vs
HUGE CHANCE!
Leipzig do fantastically to win the ball just outside the Wolfsburg area, and Nkunku's backheel sends Poulsen in on goal. He has only Casteels to beat to the left of goal and goes low with his shot, but Casteels is able to meet it with his legs for another big save. He won't be giving up this clean sheet record easily.
50'
vs
TENSE START
We had a very lively start to the first half, but it's been more controlled at the beginning of this second period. Both defences looking solid and Leipzig, in particular, looking to keep the ball when possible.
46'
vs
BACK UNDERWAY!
Haidara is on for Orban at the break, moving Mukiele into the middle and Adams to right-back.
0 - 0
Kick-off!
45'
vs
Amadou Haidara
Willi Orban
0 - 0
Half-time
45'
vs
BIG CHANCE!
Superb from Lacroix, who dribbles forward from midfield and sends Steffen in behind. He races onto the pass ahead of Orban and pokes the ball at goal, but Gulacsi makes a big, big save in the one-on-one.
38'
vs
SCHLAGER ON TARGET
The midfielder dribbles along the edge of Leipzig's area before shooting low at goal. Gulacsi makes an awkward save and the rebound falls to Weghorst, who fires it back at him only for Gulacsi to produce a second save. To save Weghorst's blushes this time, the offside flag is up against him.
34'
vs
LACROIX BOOKED
A fifth yellow card of the first half as Lacroix brings down fellow countryman Nkunku.
34'
vs
Maxence Lacroix
32'
vs
GOAL RULED OUT!
Leipzig do have the ball in the Wolfsburg net, but it's offisde against Nkunku after he latched onto a long ball over the top before passing to Kluivert who provided the finish.
29'
vs
END-TO-END STUFF!
This game has now burst into life with Leipzig falling out of the early rhythm they had found, while Wolfsburg are beginning to find their flow.
25'
vs
Christopher Nkunku
26'
vs
WEGHORST MISSES!
Incredible scenes in Leipzig. Weghorst steps up, Gulacsi dives to his right, but the Dutchman slips as he hits the penalty kick and the ball flies over the crossbar. He punches the ground straight away and that's a big chance blown.
25'
vs
WOLFSBURG PENALTY!
A check with VAR shows a foul from Nkunku on Mbabu and Wolfsburg have a penalty.
23'
vs
BIG CHANCE!
Now it's Wolfsburg's turn to have a big chance in front of goal. Arnold's next corner is cleared to Schlager once again but this time his volley comes to Mbabu in space at the back post. He controls and goes to get a shot away, but it's wide across goal while under a challenge from Nkunku.
23'
vs
SCHLAGER SHOT BLOCKED!
Arnold's free-kick is cleared out as far as Schlager on the edge of the Leipzig area and it's deflected behind off Upamecano.
21'
vs
OLMO BOOKED
Another yellow card for Leipzig with Olmo cautioned right after Kampl for a foul on Steffen.
21'
vs
Dani Olmo
20'
vs
KAMPL BOOKED
A first yellow card of the night for Leipzig as Kampl is booked for a late foul in midfield.
20'
vs
Kevin Kampl